“Since 2005, the ensemble holds an annual festival in early August named the “Stimmwercktage” (Stimmwerck Days) on the Adlersberg near Regensburg. There, using such modern technology as laptops and projectors in place of paper manuscripts, the works of a particular renaissance composer are the subject of German language lectures by musicologists and performances by Stimmwerck.

July 14 – 19, 2008 "In preparation for Haydn Year 2009, this year's Summer Academy focuses o­n small and large scale instrumental works by the genius and his contemporaries. From the single Sonata for Piano and Violin, the solo concertos to o­ne of the late symphonies, the unbelievably colourful creations of themaster offer a wealth of material. A programme for the official closing concert with chamber and orchestral music will be prepared during the course week. There will also be dance training and training in body posture; this will provide an enriching element to the course by improving understanding of Haydn's music as well as the ability to cope with instrumental challenges. ...

The Summer Academy is a forum for Early Music and historical instruments. It provides musicians already experienced with historical instruments, conservatory students, professional musicians, advanced lay musicians, and pre-formed ensembles the opportunity to meet each other and share ideas and experiences. Equally welcome are musicians who have so far o­nly played modern instruments and now want to tap into the stylistic insights of the historical performance practice movement in order to enhance their everyday musical lives. This course provides the ideal environment for doing this in a focused and meaningful way. ..." Visit the Stiftung Kloster Michaelstein website for more information. (ed.)

“It´s not just wine lovers who flock to Würzburg, but also lovers of classical music.

For 90 years Germany´s oldest Mozart festival has taken place in the Würzburg Residence. Founded only one year after the "Salzburger Festspiele" the Mozart Festival Würzburg has a long tradition and is one of the leading music festivals in Germany. For four weeks thousands of visitors from Germany and all over the world enjoy the intimate festival atmosphere and the unique architecture of the Würzburg Residenz in 50 classical concerts. During 85 years of the Mozart festival history many internationally renowned artists such as Alfred Brendel, Philippe Herreweghe, Christopher Hogwood, Gidon Kremer, Lorin Maazel, Sir Neville Marriner, Waltraud Meier, Yehudi Menuhin, Trevor Pinnock and Jukka-Pekka Saraste have been on stage.

Actually, Mozart had actually no personal association to Würzburg. It all began with an evening of music in the year 1921 at the grand Imperial Hall in the Würzburg Residence. At the end of the evening, the conductor, Hermann Zilcher, overwhelmed by the ornate stucco and lavish surroundings said "I only needed to trace a certain piece of ornamentation with my baton in the air, and that was enough for a union between sound, architecture and colour". Such a profound inspiration could not just be passed up. It soon led to the foundation of the Mozart Music Festival.“

“The International Heinrich Schütz Society, founded in 1930 as New Schütz-Gesellschaft by Hans Joachim Moser, Fritz Schmidt, Karl Vötterle and others, has its headquarters in Kassel, the first home of the composer.

Since 1954, numerous sections in other European and non-European countries.

The members of the International Heinrich Schütz Society Music lovers are not only musicians but also music researchers, theologians, journalists and church musicians as well as musicological institutes, libraries, government agencies and companies.

The International Heinrich Schütz Society regularly organizes smaller Heinrich-Schütz-day or larger-scale Heinrich Schütz festivals with different themes.Such meetings serve not only the intensive care and practical scientific penetration of Schütz's music, but also give members the opportunity for mutual exchange of ideas and to deepen existing and establish new contacts.”

“The artistically inclined Margravine Wilhelmine, one of the most important female personalities of 18th-Century Germany, transformed the Royal Seat Bayreuth into a radiant cultural metropolis. Still today the splendor of the buildings and charm of the gardens fascinate city visitors from near and far.

We are eternally indebted to the influence of this Prussian princess for creating a courtly "ensemble" in Bayreuth with French, Italian and German artists. The "Neues Schloss" (New Palace) with court gardens, "Schlosspark" (Palace Park), "Eremitage" with "Sommerschloss" (Summer Residence), "Ruinentheater" (Theater in the Ruins) "Wasserspielen" (Water Fountain), the "Felsengarten Sanspareil" (Cliff Gardens Sanspareil) - also with Theater in the Ruins - and Wilhelmine's favorite, her Margravial Opera House, can be counted among her substantial creations.

In just four years the construction was completed in 1748. At the time, this Bayreuth opera house was only comparable in size and grandeur with those in Vienna, Dresden, Paris and Venice. Completely intact even today, the theater interior radiates a festive and cheerful atmosphere.

Experience the magic of the Baroque in a performance in the Margravial Opera House and take a stroll on the historical path of Bayreuth's patron of the arts, Princess Wilhelmine. …”

“The Bach Competition in Leipzig is one of the world's major competitions for young performers. He was first issued in 1950, carried out from 1964 to 1996 in the four-year cycle with five compartments and is since 1996 every two years instead of three in varying subjects. ..“ (Google Translate)

“Arnstadt still features more original locations related to the Bach family than any other town. There is much to discover, experience, hear and marvel at. Treat yourself to a short holiday and visit the Bach-Festival 2012!

Did you know that there are 19 places in Arnstadt where the Bach family lived and worked? The tower of the castle ruin Neideck where Caspar Bach once lived with his wife and seven children; the Bachhouse where the young Johann Sebastian was regularly seen coming and going; the Bach Church where he held his first organ recital or the Church of Our Lady and the Upper Church where Heinrich Bach worked as an organist for 51 years.

And that's not all: 17 members of the Bach family were born in Arnstadt and at least 24 are buried in the historic graveyard. However, Arnstadt has a special position amongst all the places that pride themselves on being Bach towns.

To quote the author Hannelore Wallendorf: "Is it any wonder that the entire clan held here for their annual reunion?" Even if there is no "annual reunion" nowadays, the annual Bach-Festival-Arnstadt revives the musical heritage of this family and is impressive in its versatility, charm and virtuosity! ”

“Since 1989, Valtice and its Castle has been the home of the International Summer School of Early Music, organized by the Society for Early Music (CR) (Spolecnost pro starou hudbu CR) being the most extensive early music courses in the Czech Republic. During the years, many projects had taken place, a number of ensembles were formed as an outcome of the classes, many briliant performances had happened. Valtice offers young professionals and amateurs an ideal setting for working under the leadership of top foreign and Czech musicians. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

“Every year since 1947, the Prague Spring International Music Competition has helped young artists on the threshold of their careers. The 64th Prague Spring International Music Competition, a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions in Geneva, will be held from 7 to 15 May 2012 in Prague for the instrumentals Harpsichord and Cello. …“

The programme of the course includes individual lessons, group teaching of techniques, ensemble playing, listening workshops, lectures, and concerts of lecturers and participants and lots of chances to play with fellow participants (instrumentalists as well as vocalists) from all over the World.

Prachatice is situated in the southern part of Czech Republic, c. 30 km east of České Budějovice, 130 km south from Prague, 200 km north-east of Munich and 200 km north-west of Vienna.

The town is fascinating primarily because of its large medieval fortifications, entrance gate with battlements, dominant late Gothic church, the Old Town-Hall with inner porticos and a number of Renaissance buildings.

"International Music Festival Summer Festivities of Early Music aims to enrich the cultural life of our time by performin music from past centuries. Initiates search of songs that so far have remained outside our horizon, or are not of such attention, what would deserve. ...

One of the privileges of the festival is appreciated by the placement of concerts historical Prague. Experience has confirmed that such spaces enhanced the atmosphere of the music played o­n period instruments.

Visitor response in previous years has proven that the Summer Festivities of Early Music for the period of seven years of its existence became an essential part of Prague's music scene. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

“The theme of the festival each year is not an end in itself, a self-imposed restriction to creating a programme, but more of a guiding light that lends a unique color to each edition of the event. “La Folia” is a venue that has made it is possible to encounter early music in all of its facets, a series of concerts over an extended Whitsunday weekend, each “an earful” in itself. The previous festivals offered tours of the great musical traditions in Europe, taking listeners to Flanders, Austria, Bohemia and even to… Switerland! …”

“Born in early 2007, the founding members of the association is mainly active in the field of early music, it is natural that the first projects will be turned around this esthétique.Le future we will address a wide variety of activities in the approach the Métamusique.” (Google translation)

"45 years old is this festival, but still quite alive and kicking. We have chosen a new common name (Festival of Flanders - Bruges, Musica Antiqua - from now on MAfestival) and a new graphic presentation as part of an evolving context. MAfestival is fitting in with the historically informed performance practice, which acknowledges the important role of contemporary music like that of Benjamin Britten, Gavin Bryars, Dick Van der Harst, Eric Sleichim and Hans-Jürg Meier. " Visit website for more information on this year's festival details. (ed.)

“The year was 1991, the venue, the church of Tourinne-la-Grosse, the harpsichordist, Davitt Moroney. The enthusiastic audience witnessed the first recital of what was to become a festival that has lost none of its momentum since.

Its purpose was to offer a meeting place for harpsichord players and lovers, and since then the festival has welcomed numerous musicians in the course of its history.

A spring festival held in some of the most beautiful venues in Brabant Walloon like the little Saint Pierre church of Upigny, the Chapel Marie la Misérable of Woluwé-St-Lambert, the church Saint Nicolas of la Hulpe, or even a castle somewhere in Hamme-Mille.

In the wake of the festival, there are also "The Harpsichord on Thursdays" and the "Espace Mikrokosmos", whose programs are a perfect foil for those of "Le Clavecin à Tourinnes". ..“

"We are proud to announce you the tenth edition of the International Gregorian Festival of Watou. It will be held from 20 May until 24 May 2009. This is the Ascension weekend. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)